Yo, check it. They knockin' down Tumbler Ridge Secondary after that whole tragedy back in February. Nine people gone, man. Folks is hurtin'. But the question is, is tearin' down a building really gonna do somethin'? British Columbia Premier David Eby talkin' 'bout doin' right by the community, sayin' they wanna make sure the folks in Tumbler Ridge good. But real talk, it ain't that simple.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, that young dude who did the shootin', he ain't here to answer for nothin'. But what drove him to that point? Was he gettin' the help he needed? Was anybody payin' attention to what he was goin' through? Tearin' down a school ain't gonna fix that. It's deeper than bricks and mortar.

They sayin' they gon' build a new school in a different spot. That's cool and all, but if the same problems still there, what's the difference? We need counselors, mentors, and programs to help these kids deal with their issues. We need to make sure they got opportunities and ain't feelin' like they ain't got no way out.

Eby talkin' 'bout the federal government throwin' in some bread too. Word? Hope that money actually goes to the right places and ain't just gettin' pocketed by somebody up top. We need that money for mental health services, job training, and stuff that's really gonna make a difference in these kids' lives.

This ain't just a Tumbler Ridge problem, neither. This is happenin' everywhere. Young folks feelin' lost, forgotten, and like they ain't got nothin' to live for. We gotta change that narrative. We gotta show 'em that they matter, that they got potential, and that they can make somethin' of themselves.

So yeah, tear down the school. Build a new one. But don't think that's gonna solve everything. We gotta get to the root of the problem and start liftin' up these young folks. 'Cause if we don't, this is just gonna keep happenin' again and again. No cap.

It's about time we start treatin' the cause, not just the symptoms. Put some respek on the youth. For real.

Sources:

* Community Outreach Programs of British Columbia * Statistics Canada - Youth Demographics